Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-31
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
Democratic Theory as Applied 70 Gov.

ernment.
Extract from the speech delivered ny Hon Inhp
O. Carlisle, at Boston Democratic Club eaIertaln-
ment
Mr.. Carlisle said: Gentleman, In the
very nature of things, this country
must always be governed by political
parties. We need not be ashamed, GEN
tlemen, to be known as party men,
If we honestly believe that the princi-
pies and policies represented by the Or
ganiZation to which we are attached
will best promote the interests of the
nation and welfare of the people. This
is the only true base for political par
ties, and any party founded upon
foundation less broad, less patriotic
than this will soon degenerate into
mere faction, and cease to command or
deserve the respect of intelligent citi-
zen. Every attempt to make q single
interest or single class to the cOnclu-
sion of all others the basis ofa political
organization will fail and ought to fail.
From the foundation of your constitu-
tion down to the present time the point
of irrecOncilable difference between the
Democratic party and all its adversaries
has been as to the nature and extent of
the federal powers. The principle of
local self government is the vital part
of Democracy. The amendment of the
constitution declares that the powers
not delegated to the United States by
the constitution, nor prohibited by it
to the state. are reserved to the states
respectively or to the people. No pow
er can justly be claimed unless it is
granted in express terms or by necessa-
ry implication. If no such grant or
power can be found, and if its exercise
by the state is not prohibited, it belongs
to the state and her people; and thus
the whole doctrine of state rights is de-
fined in the article. 1t does not sane
ton accession or notification, but it in
structs the several states and their peo-
pie as to the boundaries of all legisla-
tive, executive and judicial power not
delegated to the United States by fair
and reasonable construction of the con-
stitution.
"By this constitutional doctrine of
state rights the Democratic party of
this country stands to-day as it
always has stood, and as, trust it will
stand forever hereafter. Loud ap-
plause. Twenty-Five years ago the
tendency was to carry this doc
trine to dangerous extreme. but
since that time the danger
Gus extreme has threatened from quite
another direction. Great and power
full interests, too powerful almost, to be
successfully resisted, are constantly
pressing against the barriers of the con-
stitution and demanding the extension
of the federal power to degree never
contemplated by the most eX treme fed
eralist in the early days. 1t is quite
common now to hear gentlemen, in
Congress and elsewhere, contending for
the exercise of power by the general
government over particular subjects,
simply because the States refuse to do
so or because it is thought that the
State legislation might not be entirely
effective. The argument is that what
ever the States will not do, or can not
do, must be done by Congress of the
departments Of the general govern
ment, and that, independently of those
specific grants of power, it is the right
and the duty of a government to exer-
else general supervision and control
over all the concerns of the people.
Mr.. President, this is not Democratic
doctrine as l understand it, and never
was. Tremendous cheers. 1t means
Capitalization first and inevitable dis
solution afterwards.
"No part of the union is 80 vitally
interested in the preservation and the
maintenance intact of this local au-
thority as the New England States, and
in no part of the union have the bene-
fetal results attending the maintenance
of this doctrine been so thoroughly de-
monstrated. Your town meeting is the
most Democratic institution of this
country. [Cheers.] 1t has never en-
dangered the liberties of single hu-
man being. The town, the State and
the general government all have their
appropriate powers and duties, and so
long as these are respected and main
tanned, neither encroaching on the do
main of the other, there will be har-
mony and unity in our complex system
of government. Fortunately, we have
at last been permitted to inaugurate a
Democratic national administration,
and more fortunately still, that admin
istration by it's conservative and pa
triotic course, by its honest and faith
full execution of the laws and by its re-
CARDS for the rights ofall classes of men
has given abundant assurance that the
executive power can be safely trusted to
our hands. This country was never
better governed than it is now cheers]
and it was never more tranquil and
contented that it isnow. 1t is true that
abuses still exist, but they were not in
augurated by this administration.
Many of them have already been cor
rected, and most of those that remain
are not under the control of the eXecu-
tive department alone. 1t is not my
purpose, gentlemen, to discuss the rev.
enue question upon this occasion. 1t is
too large a subject to be presented fully
in the time at my disposal, and too i'm
portant subject to be treated hastily.
1t is enough to say-and I say it in
conclusion-that in my judgment the
government has no moral or legal right
to impose taxes upon its citizens except
for the purpose of raising revenue tc
defray its necessary expenses and pay
its just debts. Loud cheering. When
ever it goes beyond this it disregards
in my opinion, the plain purpose fol
which the power of taxation was con
ferred upon it. Loud applause. And
believe this is the doctrine of an over
whelming majority of the American